The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-29
GO 1T BOYS.
A Dancing Match Between Zeb Vance
and Sion H. Rogers.
Maxwell German in the Southern Home

Gen. ]. NJ. Leach spends consider
able of his time in Washington with his
son, ]. M. Leach, Jr., who is chief of
division in the Sixth Auditors Office
The general is as full of fssreminiscences"
and good stories asever and one which
| heard him relate to party of North
Carollnians the other evening will bear
repeating. Said he, in effect:
i" You know that Zeb. Vance used
to be member ofthe National House
before the war, and Sion Rogers rep
resented the Raleigh district in Con-
gress. Well, some friends sent Frank
Shober, of Salisbury, and me case of
very fine wine one day. Zeb, and
Sion found it out, somehow, and they
used to come around to see US mighty
often. In fact, they became great
friends of ours, sticking closer than
brothers-while the wine lasted.
"One night, after they had relieved
us of half-Gozen bottles, more or less,
they got to feeling pretty good, and
after while Zeb. remarked that he
believed he was just about the best
dancer that North Carolina ever sent
to Congress.
" Now, nobody ever heard of Zeb.
VanCe's virtues as a dancer before.
Every one knows that he doesn't in
the least resemble ballet girl. He
amt built right to dance and didn't
believe he had ever had any expert
ence in that direction before that night;
but he stuck to his assertion.
"Well, Zeb. kept repeating the state
ment until finally Sion says sZeb., l
don't count myself any great shakes as
practical exponent of the terpsicho-
rean art, but l allow that can just
dance the hind legs off Of YOU
"Now, Sion Rogers was built like a
bean-pole; he was over six feet high
and as thin as a wafer, and no living
man ever saw him without big pair of
eye glasses adjusted to his long nose.
If it was funny to think ofZeb. Vance's
dancing it was simply ridiculous to
consider Sion Rogers in that connec-
ton. But Sheber said he believed
Sion could down Zeb. ); l asserted to
the contrary, and Shober bet me s1oo.
"The room was cleared. Zeb. and
Sion peeled off their wearing apparel
until nothing was left but nocturnal
habiliments, and the two contestants
took their positions on the floor. 1t
was an ill-assorted pair-never were
two men more unlike. Shober and l
were to do the patting and Zeb. and
Sion were told that the man who stayed
on the floor longest was to have a
half-dozen bottles of our wine. Shober
started the old plantation pat (; the
dancers caught step and went at it.
"s Go it, Sion! shouted Shober.
"sBuckle down Zeb ! exclaimed;
and both men began to rattle off a
double shuttle back-step that would
have turned any niger in North Car
olina green with envy.
" Time passed.
" Midnight came and went /; the
clock on the mantle struck one. The
dancing still went on.
daylight appeared. Vance was
beginning to double like hunchback,
and he was sweating like draft horse.
Sion seemed to grow taller every
minute; his head was thrown back,
his arms stood ak:mbo, only his toes
appeared to touch the floor, and not a
drop of perspiration was visible about
him.
"The hotel breakfast bell rang.
Shober and / were nearly exhausted
although we took turns in patting; but
the dancing still went on. Zeb's shirt
was sricking to him like huge court
plaster, but Sion looked as cool as a
Christmas snow storm. Zeb. was bent
over until he had nearly assumed sit
ting posture, his bow-legs looking as
rond as barrel hoop. Sion continued
to grow taller, and his eyeglasses still
preserved their equilibrium on the end
Of his nose.
"When ? O'Clock came, and Con
gress assembled, we suggested recess
But no; Sion wonldn't hear to it
Finally saw that Zeb., who now stood
only about feet, inches in his socks
was about to subside. and | gave up
"The artists then once more RECALLED
themselves with our wine, and Zeb
went to bed. But Sion didn't. After
dancing 26 hours without stop, hi
went to the House of Representative:
and made big speech"
During these few days of the cele
bration OF the adoption OF the consti
tuition, we were going to suggest, tha